Soccer

Eva Carneiro case against Chelsea and Mourinho to be heard in June

Former Chelsea physio Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal against the club
Former Chelsea physio Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal against the club Former Chelsea physio Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal against the club

JOSE Mourinho and Chelsea face the prospect of three weeks of public disclosure of their dispute with former first-team doctor Eva Carneiro at an employment tribunal next month.

Carneiro is claiming constructive dismissal against Chelsea and has a separate personal legal action against Mourinho, who left the club in December and is expected to be appointed Manchester United manager this week, for alleged victimisation and discrimination.

Croydon Employment Tribunal has set aside June 6 to June 24 for the tribunal, which is anticipated to be heard over seven to 10 days within that time frame.

The case could overshadow the start of Mourinho's employment at Old Trafford, where he is set to succeed Louis van Gaal as manager.

All three parties must agree to a settlement for the tribunal, which would be accessible to the public and the media, to be averted.

Private hearings in January and February took place without a conclusion, but the case could be settled at any time.

Should the tribunal proceed, witness statements and documents - including texts and emails - would likely be made public, while Carneiro, Mourinho and representatives from Chelsea could be called to appear as witnesses.

Chelsea have declined to comment on the case, but supported Mourinho even after his employment as manager was terminated.

Whether or not Chelsea would continue to support Mourinho if he is employed by a rival club is uncertain.

Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn were criticised by Mourinho and dropped from first-team duties following the draw with Swansea on the opening day of the Premier League season, on August 8, 2015.

The pair went on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard, an action which meant that Chelsea were temporarily down to nine men against Swansea as they had already had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent off.

Afterwards Mourinho called Carneiro and Fearn "impulsive and naive".

The 42-year-old doctor did not appear on the bench again for first-team duties and later parted company with the club, while Fearn continues to be employed by Chelsea and returned to the first-team bench in March.

Mourinho was cleared of using discriminatory language towards Carneiro following an investigation by the Football Association.

Afterwards, Carneiro and the Football Association's independent board member, Dame Heather Rabbatts, criticised the governing body for not interviewing the doctor as part of its investigation.

Carneiro has also had backing from FIFA's medical chairman, Michel D'Hooghe, who contacted the doctor to offer his support and that of the world governing body. He has backed Carneiro's insistence that she was simply doing her job.